Five Year Olds Speak Boldly about Race

I thought for sure I was on to something. Of course, I wasn’t. I didn’t understand the complexity of race in American culture or the history that hadn’t yet been covered in my kindergarten classroom. The beauty of five year young innocence is things are really that simple.

This morning, my kids were dancing to Nepali music videos in the living room. Their daddy and I laughed and commented on how they dance just like the heroes in the Youtube clips.

Keeping up the cultural theme, speaking Nepali, Daddy asked our kurtha surwal clad daughter who is running her fifth year if she was Nepali.

She quickly replied, “Yes,” then, “No. Because my face isn’t black!” Raising her arms, she added, “And neither are my hands!” (which were the only parts of her showing in this ethnic outfit).

Simple.

I didn’t care about the color of my little kindergartner friend’s skin. We liked to sit together, color, and giggle. A lot.

My daughter isn’t oblivious to the fact that she is a fluorescent fish in a school of brown swimmers. She knows she’s different and that her classmates think she’s a little goofy. After all, she’s the only one who eats a peanut butter sandwich instead of dal bhat every day.

But she loves her classmates. She comes home babbling about her new best friend every day and the drama of Saisha not loving her anymore, but if she apologizes she can come spend the night.

Simple. And beautiful.

I hope her thoughts on race remain this way. That she will continue seeing different colors, appreciating different cultures, and loving the people represented by each.

05:00

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This post is part of Five Minute Friday where many writers join together each week to write for freely Five Minutes on the same prompt and encourage each other along the way. This week, our prompt is FIVE. Join the fun!

Key:

*running her fifth year- closer to 5 years old than 4; how Nepalis describe age
*kurtha surwal- traditional dress consisting of shirt dress and what we Americans call hammer pants
*heroes- movie/music video stars
*dal bhat- lentils and rice, generally eaten twice a day by Nepali families
*Saisha- my daughters BFF who actually does love her

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10 Comments

I love the simplicity of life in youngsters. Jesus told us to believe like children and I pray that I can have their belief and innocence in everything. Thank you for sharing about your beautiful daughter and her love of life and those around her. – Lori
visiting from Five Minute Friday

I love the innocence and beauty of my five year old’s comments on race as well! They really open my eyes to how the world looks though the eyes of a child… no guile… Love hearing more about your cultural experience and the idioms that arise in Nepal as well- so fascinating!

You’re so right about them opening our eyes! I learn so much from my kids! Learning how to talk to them about race and culture has stretched and challenged me about the ways I am trained to be ethnocentric. Always love hearing from you, Emma.

She is so precious to me and teaches me so much about loving others. Thanks for your faithfulness to show up over here at my little blog. I am always uplifted and encouraged by your words. You are the real gem!